Selected quad for the lemma: day_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
day_n	degree_n	hour_n	longitude_n	5,383	5	13.5790	5	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A36106	A new voyage round the world describing particularly the isthmus of America, several coasts and islands in the West Indies, the isles of Cape Verd, the passage by Terra del Fuego, the South Sea coasts of Chili, Peru and Mexico, the isle of Guam one of the Ladrones, Mindanao, and other Philippine and East-India islands near Cambodia, China, Formosa, Luconia, Celebes, &c., New Holland, Sumatra, Nicobar Isles, the Cape of Good Hope, and Santa Hellena : their soil, rivers, harbours, plants, fruits, animals, and inhabitants : their customs, religion, government, trade, &c. / by William Dampier ; illustrated with particular maps and draughts.	Dampier, William, 1652-1715.	1697 (1697)	Wing D161; Wing D165; ESTC R9942	710,236	1,112

only wanting some fair pretence to set themselves to work about it Therefore looking on what was written in this Journal to be matter sufficient for them to accomplish their ends Captain Teat who as I said before had been abused by Captain Swan laid hold on this opportunity to be revenged for his injuries and aggravated the matter to the heighth perswading the men to turn out Captain Swan from being Commander in hopes to have commanded the Ship himself As for the Sea-men they were easily perswaded to any thing for they were quite tired with this long and tedious Voyage and most of them despaired of ever getting home and therefore did not care what they did or whither they went It was only want of being busied in some action that made them so uneasie therefore they consented to what Teat proposed and immediately all that were aboard bound themselves by Oath to turn Captain Swan out and to conceal this design from those that were ashore until the Ship was under sail which would have been presently if the Surgeon or his Mate had been aboard but they were both ashore and they thought it no prudence to go to Sea without a Surgeon Therefore the next morning they sent ashore one John Cookworthy to hasten off either the Surgeon or his Mate by pretending that one of the men in the night broke his Leg by falling into the Hold. The Surgeon told him that he intended to come aboard the next day with the Captain and would not come before but sent his Mate Herman Coppinger This man some time before this was sleeping at his Pagallies and a Snake twisted himself about his Neck but afterwards went away without hurting him In this Country it is usual to have the Snakes come into the Houses and into the Ships too for we had several came aboard our Ship when we lay in the River But to proceed Herman Coppinger provided to go aboard and the next day being the time appointed for Captain Swan and all his men to meet aboard I went aboard with him neither of us mistrusting what was designing by those aboard till we came thither Then we found it was only a trick to get the Surgeon off for now having obtained their desires the Canoa was sent ashore again immediately to desire as many as they could meet to come aboard but not to tell the reason lest Captain Swan should come to hear of it The 13th day in the morning they weighed and fired a Gun Captain Swan immediately sent aboard Mr. Nelly who was now his chief Mate to see what the matter was To him they told all their grievances and shew'd him the Journal He perswaded them to stay till the next day for an answer from Captain Swan and the Merchants So they came to an Anchor again and the next morning Mr. Harthop came aboard He perswaded them to be reconciled again or at least to stay and get more Rice But they were deaf to it and weighed again while he was aboard Yet at Mr. Harthop's perswasion they promised to stay till 2 a clock in the afternoon for Captain Swan and the rest of the men if they would come aboard but they suffer'd no man to go ashore except one William Williams that had a Wooden Leg and another that was a Sawyer If Captain Swan had yet come aboard he might have dash'd all their designs but he neither came himself as a Captain of any Prudence and Courage would have done nor sent till the time was expired So we left Captain Swan and about 36 men ashore in the City and 6 or 8 that run away and about 16 we had buried there the most of which dyed by Poyson The Natives are very expert at Poysoning and do it upon small occasions nor did our men want for giving offence through their general Rogueries and sometimes by dallying too familiarly with their Women even before their faces Some of their Poysons are slow and lingering for we had some now aboard who were poyson'd there but dyed not till some months after CHAP. XIV They depart from the River of Mindanao Of the time lost or gain'd in sailing round the World With a Caution to Seamen about the allowance they are to make for the difference of the Suns declination The South Coast of Mindanao Chambongo Town and Harbour with its Neighbouring Keys Green-Turtle Ruins of a Spanish Fort. The Westermost point of Mindanao Two Proes of the Sologues laden from Manila An Isle to the West of Sebo Walking-Canes Isle of Batts very large and numerous Turtle and Manatee A dangerous Shoal They sail by Panay belonging to the Spaniards and others of the Philippine Islands Isle of Mindora Two Barks taken A further account of the Isle Luconia and the City and Harbour of Manila They go for Pulo Condore to lye there The Shoals of Pracel c. Pulo Condore The Tar-tree The Mango Grape-tree The Wild or Bastard-Nutmeg Their Animals Of the Migration of the Turtle from place to place Of the Commodious Situation of Pulo Condore its Water and its Cochinchinese Inhabitants Of the Malayan Tongue The custom of prostituting their Women in these Countries and in Guinea The Idolatry here at Tunquin and among the Chinese Seamen and of a Procession at Fort St. George Change of time in compassing the World They refit their Ship Two of them dye of Poyson they took at Mindanao They take in Water and a Pilot for the Bay of Siam Pulo Uby and Point of Cambodia Two Cambodian Vessels Isles in the Bay of Siam The tight Vessels and Seamen of the Kingdom of Champa Storms A Chinese Jonk from Palimbam in Sumatra They come again to Pulo Condore A bloody fray with a Malayan Vessel The Surgeons and the Authors desires of leaving their Crew THe 14th day of January 1687 at 3 of the clock in the afternoon we sailed from the River of Mindanao designing to cruise before Mauilo It was during our stay at Mindanao that we were first made sensible of the change of time in the course of our Voyage For having Travell'd so far Westward keeping the same course with the Sun we must consequently have gain'd something insensibly in the length of the particular days but have lost in the tale the bulk or number of the days or hours According to the different longitudes of England and Mindanao thi Isle being West from the Lizzard by common computation about 210 degrees the difference of time at our arrival at Mindanao ought to be about 14 hours and so much we should have anticipated our reckoning having gained it by bearing the Sun company Now the natural day in every particular place must be consonant to it self but this going about with or against the Suns course will of necessity make a difference in the calculation of the civil day between any two places Accordingly at Mindanao and all other places in the East Indies we found themreckoning a day before us both Natives and Europeans

are Markets duly kept all over Tonquin one in a week in a neighbourhood of 4 or 5 Villages and held at each of them successively in its order so that the same Village has not the Market return'd to it till 4 or 5 weeks after These Markets are abundantly more stor'd with Rice as being their chief subsistence especially of the poorer sort than either with Flesh or Fish yet wants there not for Pork and young Pigs good store Ducks and Hens plenty of Eggs Fish great and small fresh and salted Balachaun and Nuke-Mum with all sorts of Roots Herbs and Fruits even in these Country Markets But at Cachao where there are markets kept every day they have besides these Beef of Bullocks Buffaloes Flesh Goats Flesh Horse Flesh Cats and Dogs as I have been told and Locusts They dress their food very cleanly and make it savory for which they have several ways unknown in Europe but they have many sorts of dishes that wou'd turn the Stomach of a stranger which yet they themselves like very well as particularly a dish of raw Pork which is very cheap and common This is only Pork cut and minced very small fat and lean together which being afterwards made up in balls on rolls like Sausages and prest very hard together is then neatly wrapt up in clean leaves and without more ado served up to the Table Raw Beef is another dish much esteemed at Cachao When they kill a Bullock they singe the hair off with Fire as we singe Bacon Hogs in England Then they open it and while the Flesh is yet hot they cut good Collops from off the lean parts and put them into very tart Vinegar where it remains 3 or 4 hours or longer till it is sufficiently soaked and then without more trouble they take it out and eat it with great delight As for Horseflesh I know not whether they kill any purposely for the Shambles or whether they only do it when they are not likely to live as I have seen them do their working Bullocks at Galicia in Old Spain where the Cattel falling down with labour and being so poor and tired that they cannot rise they are slaughtered and sent to market and I think I never eat worse Beef than at the Groin The Horseflesh comes to Market at Cachao very frequently and is as much esteemed as Beef Elephants they eat also and the Trunk of this Beast is an acceptable present for a Nobleman and that too tho the beast dyes with Age or Sickness For here are but few wild Elephants and those so shy that they are not easily taken But the King having a great number of tame Elephants when one of these dyes 't is given to the poor who presently fetch away the Flesh but the Trunk is cut in pieces and presented to the Mandarins Dogs and Cats are killed purposely for the Shambles and their Flesh is much esteemed by people of the best fashion as I have been credibly informed Great yellow Frogs also are much admired especially when they come fresh out of the Pond They have many other such choice dishes and in all the Villages at any time of the day and be it market day or not there are several to be sold by poor people who make it their Trade The most common sorts of Cookeries next to boil'd Rice is to dress little bits of Pork spitted 5 or 6 of them at once on a small skiver and roasted In the Markets also and daily in every Village there are Women sitting in the Streets with a Pipkin over a small Fire full of Chau as they call it a sort of very ordinary Tea of a reddish brown colour and 't is their ordinary drink The Kingdom of Tonquin is in general healthy enough especially in the dry season when also it is very delightsom For the seasons of the year at Tonquin and all the Countries between the Tropicks are distinguished into Wet and Dry as properly as others are into Winter and Summer But as the alteration from Winter to Summer and vice versa is not made of a sudden but with the interchangeable Weather of Spring and Autumn so also toward the end of the dry season there are some gentle showers now and then that precede the violent wet months and again toward the end of these several fair days that introduce the dry time These seasons are generally much alike at the same time of the year in all places of the Torrid Zone on the same side of the Equator but for 2 or 3 degrees on each side of it the weather is more mixt and uncertain tho inclining to the wet extreme and is often contrary to that which is then settled on the same side of the Equator more toward the Tropick So that even when the wet Season is set in in the Northern parts of the Torrid Zone it may yet be dry weather for 2 or 3. degrees North of the Line and the same may be said of the contrary Latitudes and Seasons This I speak with respect to the driness or moisture of Countries in the Torrid Zone but it may also hold good of their Heat or Cold generally for as to all these qualities there is a further difference arises from the make or situation of the Land or other accidental causes besides what depends on the respective latitude or regard to the Sun Thus the Bay of Compeachy in the West Indies and that of Bengal in the East in much the same latitude are exceeding hot and moist and whether their situation being very low Countries and the scarcity and faintness of the Sea-breezes as in most Bays may not contribute hereunto I leave others to judge Yet even as to the Latitudes of these places lying near the Tropicks they are generally upon that account alone more inclined to great Heats than places near the Equator This is what I have experienc'd in many places in such Latitudes both in the East and West Indies that the hottest parts of the World are these near the Tropicks especially 3 or 4 Degrees within them sensibly hotter than under the Line itself Many reasons may be assign'd for this beside the accidental ones from the make of the particular Countries Tropical Winds or the like For the longest day at the Equator never exceeds 12 hours and the night is always of the same length But near the Tropicks the longest day is about 13 hours and an half and an hour and an half being also taken from the night what with the length of the day and the shortness of the night there is a difference of three hours which is very cousiderable Besides which at such places as are about 3 degrees within the Tropicks or in the Lat. of 20 Deg. N. the Sun comes within 2 or 3 degrees of the Zenith in the beginning of May and having past the Zenith goes not above 2 or 3 degrees beyond it before it returns and passeth the Zenith once more and by

remainder of these Islands of Cape Verd are St. Antonio Sta. Lucia St. Vincente and Bona-Vista of which I know nothing considerable Our entrance among these Islands was from the North East for in our passage from Virginia we ran pretty far toward the Coast of Gualata in Africk to preserve the Trade-wind lest we should be born off too much to the Westward and so lose the Islands We anchored at the South of Sall and passing by the South of St. Nicholas anchored again at Mayo as hath been said where we made the shorter stay because we could get no Flesh among the Inhabitants by reason of the regret they had at their Governour and his Mens being carried away by Captain Bond. So leaving the Isles of Cape Verd we stood away to the Southward with the Wind at E. N. E. intending to have touched no more till we came to the Streights of Magellan But when we came into the lat of 10 deg North we met the Winds at S. by W. and S. S. W. therefore we altered our resolutions and steered away for the Coast of Guinea and in few days came to the Mouth of the River of Sherboro which is an English Factory lying South of Sierra Liona We had one of our Men who was well acquainted there and by his direction we went in among the Shoals and came to an anchor Sherboro was a good way from us so I can give no account of the place or our Factory there save that I have been informed that there is a considerable Trade driven there for a sort of Red Wood for Dying which grows in that Country very plentifully 't is called by our people Cam-wood A little within the shore where we anchored was a Town of Negroes Natives of this Coast. It was skreen'd from our sight by a large Grove of Trees that grew between them and the shore but we went thither to them several times during the 3 or 4 days of our stay here to refresh our selves and they as often came aboard us bringing with them Plantains Sugar-canes Palm-wines Rice Fowls and Honey which they sold us They were no way shy of us being well acquainted with the English by reason of our Guinea-Factories and Trade This Town seem'd pretty large the Houses but low and ordinary but one great House in the midst of it where their chief men meet and receive Strangers and here they treated us with Palm-wine As to their Persons they are like other Negroes While we lay here we scrubb'd the bottom of our Ship and then fill'd all our Water-Casks and buying up two Puncheons of Rice for our Voyage we departed from hence about the middle of November 1683 prosecuting our intended course towards the Straights of Mágellan We had but little wind after we got out and very hot weather with some fierce Tornadoe's commonly rising out of the N. E. which brought Thunder Lightening and Rain These did not last long sometimes not a quarter of an hour and then the wind would shuffle about to the Southward again and fall flat calm for these Tornadoe's commonly come against the wind that is then blowing as our Thunder-Clouds are often observed to do in England but the Tornadoe's I shall describe more largely in my Chapter of Winds in the Appendix to this Book At this time many of our men were taken with Feavers yet we lost but one While we lay in the calms we caught several great Sharks sometimes 2 or 3 in a day and eat them all boyling and squeezing them dry and then stewing them with Vinegar Pepper c. for we had but little flesh aboard We took the benefit of every Tornado which came sometimes 3 or 4 in day and carried what Sail we could to get to the Southward for we had but little wind when they were over and those small winds between the Tornadoe's were much against us at S. by E. and S. S. E. till we past the Equinoctial Line which we crost about a degree to the Eastward of the Meridian of the Isle of St. Jago off the Cape-Verd Islands At first we could scarce lye S. W. but being got a degree to the Southward of the Line the wind veer'd more Easterly and then we stemm'd S. W. by S. and as we got farther to the Southward so the wind came about to the Eastward and freshened upon us In the Lat. of 3 S. we had the wind at E. in the Lat. of 5 we had it at E. S. E. where it stood a considerable time and blew a fresh top gallant gale We then made the best use of it steering on briskly with all the Sail we could make and this wind by the 18 of Jan. carried us into the Lat. of 36 South In all this time we met with nothing worthy remark not so much as a Fish except Flying Fish which have been so often described that I think it needless for me to do it Here we found the Sea much changed from its natural greenness to a white or palish colour which caused us to sound supposing we might strike ground For when ever we find the colour of the Sea to change we know we are not far from Land or shoals which stretch out into the Sea running from some Land But here we found no ground with 100 fathom Line I was this day at noon by reckoning 48 d. 50 m. West from the Lizard the variation by our morning amplitude 15 d. 50 m. East the variation increasing The 20 day one of our Chyrurgeons dyed much lamented because we had but one more for such a dangerous Voyage January 28th we made the Sibbel de Wards which are 3 Islands lying in the lat of 51 d. 25 m. South and longitude West from the Lizard in England by my account 57 d. 28 m. the variation here we found to be 23 d. 10 m. I had for a month before we came hither endeavoured to perswade Captain Cook and his Company to anchor at these Islands where I told them we might probably get water as I then thought and in case we should miss of it here yet by being good Husbands of what we had we might reach John Fernando's in the South Seas before our water was spent This I urged to hinder their designs of going through the Straights of Magellan which I knew would prove very dangerous to us the rather because our men being Privateers and so more wilful and less under command would not be so ready to give a watchful attendance in a passage so little known For altho these men were more under command than I had ever seen any Privateers yet I could not expect to find them at a minutes call in coming to an anchor or weighing Anchor beside if ever we should have occasion to moor or cast out two Anchors we had not a Boat to carry out or weigh an Anchor These Islands of Sible de Wards were so named by the Dutch They are all three rocky barren Islands

without any Tree only some Dildo-bushes growing on them and I do believe there is no Water on any one of them for there was no appearance of any Water The two Northernmost we could not come near but the Southermost we came close by but could not strike ground till within two Cables length of the shore and there found it to be foul rocky ground From the time that we were in 10 degrees South till we came to these Islands we had the Wind between E. N. E. and the N. N. E. fair weather and a brisk gale The day that we made these Islands we saw great sholes of small Lobsters which coloured the Sea Red in spots for a mile in compass and we drew some of them out of the Sea in our Water-Buckets They were no bigger than the top of a Mans little finger yet all their Claws both great and small like a Lobster I never saw any of this sort of Fish naturally red but here for ours on the English Coast which are black naturally are not red till they are boil'd neither did I ever any where else meet with any Fish of the Lobster shape so small as these unless it may be Shrimps or Prawns Captain Swan and Captain Eaton met also with shoals of this Fish in much the same Latitude and Longitude Leaving therefore the Sible de Ward Islands as having neither good Anchorage nor Water we sailed on directing our course for the Streights of Magellan But the Winds hanging in the westerbord and blowing hard oft put us by our Topsails so that we could not fetch it The 6th day of February we fell in with the Streights Le Mair which is very high Land on both sides and the Streights very narrow We had the Wind at N. N. W. a fresh gale and seeing the opening of the Streights we ran in with it till within four mile of the mouth and then it fell calm and we found a strong tide setting out of the Streights to the Northward and like to founder our Ship but whether flood or ebb I know not only it made such a short cockling Sea as if we had been in a race or place where two tides meet For it ran every way sometimes breaking in over our Waste sometimes over our Poop sometimes over our Bow and the Ship tossed like an Egg-shell so that I never felt such uncertain jerks in a Ship At 8 a clock in the evening we had a small Breez at W. N. W. and steered away to the Eastward intending to go round the States Island the East end of which we reached the next day by noon having a fresh breez all night The 7th day at noon being off the East End of States Island I had a good observation of the Sun and found my self in lat 54 deg 52 min. South At the East end of States Island are three small Islands or rather Rocks pretty high and white with the Dung of Fowls Wherefore having observed the Sun we haled up South designing to pass round to the Southward of Cape Horne which is the Southermost Land of Terra del Fuego The Winds hung in the western quarter betwixt the N. W. and the West so that we could not get much to the Westward and we never saw Terra del Fuego after that evening that we made the Streight Le Mair I have heard that there have been Smokes and Fires on Terra del Fuego not on the tops of Hills but in Plains and Valleys seen by those who have sailed through the Streights of Magellan supposed to be made by the Natives We did not see the Sun at rising or setting in order to take an amplitude after we left the Sibble de Wards till we got into the South Seas therefore I know not whether the variation increased any more or no. Indeed I had an observation of the Sun at noon in lat 59 deg 30 min. and we were then standing to the Southward with the Wind at W. by N. and that night the Wind came about more to the Southward of the West and we tackt I was then in lat 60 by reckning which was the farthest South latitude that ever I was in The 14th day of February being in lat 57. and to the West of Cape Horne we had a violent Storm which held us till the third day of March blowing commonly at S. W. and S. W. by W. and W. S. W. thick weather all the time with small drizling Rain but not hard We made a shift however to save 23 Barrels of Rain-water besides what we drest our Victuals withal March the third the Wind shifted at once and came about at South blowing a fierce gale of Wind soon after it came about to the Eastward and we stood into the South Seas The 9th day having an observation of the Sun not having seen it of late we found ourselves in lat 47 d. 10 m. and the variation to be but 15 d. 30 m. East The Wind stood at S. E. we had fair weather and a moderate gale and the 17th day we were in lat 36 by observation and then found the variation to be but 8 degrees East The 19th day when we looked out in the morning we saw a Ship to the Southward of us coming with all the Sail she could make after us we lay muzled to let her come up with us for we supposed her to be a Spanish Ship come from Baldivia bound to Lima we being now to the Northward of Baldivia and this being the time of the year when Ships that trade thence to Baldivia return home They had the same opinion of us and therefore made sure to take us but coming nearer we both found our mistakes This proved to be one Captain Eaton in a Ship sent purposely from London for the South Seas We hailed each other and the Captain came on board and told us of his actions on the Coast of Brazil and in the River of Plate He met Captain Swan one that came from England to trade here at the East Entrance into the Streights of Magellan and they accompanied each other through the Streights and were separated after they were through by the Storm before mentioned Both we and Captain Eaton being bound for John Fernando's Isle we kept company and we spared him Bread and Beef and he spared us Water which he took in as he passed through the Streights March the 22d 1684. we came in sight of the Island and the next day got in and anchored in a Bay at the South end of the Island in 25 fathom water not two Cables lengths from the shore We presently got out our Canoa and went ashore to see for a Moskito Indian whom we left here when we were chaced hence by three Spanish Ships in the year 1681. a little before we went to Arica Captain Watlin being then our Commander after Captain Sharp was turned out This Indian lived here alone above 3 years and altho he was several

Trade-wind which we made use of with all our Sails and we made many good Observations of the Sun At our first setting out we steer'd into the lat of 13 degrees which is near the lat of Guam then we steered West keeping in that lat By that time we had sailed 20 days our men seeing we made such great runs and the Wind like to continue repined because they were kept at such short allowance Captain Swan endeavoured to perswade them to have a little patience yet nothing but an augmentation of their daily allowance would appease them Captain Swan though with much reluctance gave way to a small enlargement of our commons for now we had not above 10 spoonfuls of boil'd Maiz a man once a day whereas before we had 8 I do believe that this short allowance did me a great deal of good though others were weakened by it for I found that my strength increased and my Dropsy wore off Yet I drank 3 times every 24 hours but many of our men did not drink in 9 or 10 days time and some not in 12 days one of our men did not drink in 17 days time and said he was not adry when he did drink yet he made water every day more or less One of our men in the midst of these hardships was found guilty of theft and condemned for the same to have 3 blows from each man in the Ship with a 2 inch and a half rope on his bare back Captain Swan began first and struck with a good will whose example was followed by all of us It was very strange that in all this Voyage we did not see one Fish not so much as a Flying-fish nor any sort of Fowl but at one time when we were by my account 4975 miles West from Cape Corrientes then we saw a great number of Boobies which we supposed came from some Rocks not far from us which were mentioned in some of our Sea-carts but we did not see them After we had run the 1900 leagues by our reckoning which made the English account to Guam the men began to murmur against Captain Swan for perswading them to come this Voyage but he gave them fair words and told them that the Spanish account might probably be the truest and seeing the gale was likely to continue a short time longer would end our troubles A Map of the EAST INDIES As we drew nigh the Island we met with some small Rain and the Clouds settling in the West were an apparent token that we were not far from Land for in these Climates between or near the Tropicks where the Trade-wind blows constantly the Clouds which fly swift over head yet seem near the Limb of the Horizon to hang without much motion or alteration where the Land is near I have often taken notice of it especially if it is high Land for you shall then have the Clouds hang about it without any visible motion The 20th day of May our Bark being about 3 leagues a head of our Ship sailed over a rocky shole on which there was but 4 fathom water and abundance of Fish swimming about the Rocks They imagin d by this that the Land was not far off so they clapt on a Wind with the Barks head to the North and being past the Shole lay by for us When we came up with them Captain Teat came aboard us and related what he had seen We were then in lat 12 d. 55 m. steering West The Island Guam is laid down in Lat. 13 d. N. by the Spaniards who are Masters of it keeping it as a baiting place as they go to the Philippine Islands Therefore we clapt on a Wind and stood to North-ward being somewhat troubled and doubtful whither we were right because there is no Shole laid down in the Spanish drafts about the Island Guam At 4 a clock to our great joy we saw the Island Guam at about 8 leagues distance It was well for Captain Swan that we got sight of it before our Provision was spent of which we had but enough for 3 days more for as I was afterwards informed the men had contrived first to kill Captain Swan and eat him when the victuals was gone and after him all of us who were accessary in promoting the undertaking this Voyage This made Captain Swan say to me after our arrival at Guam Ah! Dampier you would have made them but a poor Meal for I was as lean as the Captain was lusty and fleshy The Wind was at E. N. E. and the Land bore at N. N. E. therefore we stood to the Northward till we brought the Island to bear East and then we turned to get in to an anchor The account I have given hitherto of our course from Cape Corrientes in the Kingdom of Mexico for I have mentioned another Cape of that name in Peru South of the Bay of Panama to Guam one of the Ladrone Islands hath been in the gross But for the satisfaction of those who may think it serviceable to the fixing the Longitudes of these parts or to any other use in Geography or Navigation I have here subjoined a particular Table of every days run which was as follows A Table of every days Run to Guam Day Course Dist. S. W. Lat. Winds March 31 S W 5 d W 27 17 20 20 11 W N W Ap 1 S W 5 W 106 68 81 R. 19 3 N W N N W 2 S W 1 W 142 98 101 R. 17 25 N b W 3 W by S 102 19 100 Ob. 17 6 N 4 W 12 S 140 29 136 Ob. 16 37 N N N E 5 W 20 S 160 54 150 Ob. 15 43 N 6 W 10 S 108 18 106 Ob. 15 25 N E 7 W 15 S 89 23 86 Ob. 15 2 N E E N E 8 W 2 S 64 5 63 R. 14 57 E N E 9 W 4 S 94 6 93 Ob. 14 51 E N E 10 W 5 S 138 12 137 Ob. 14 39 E N E 11 W 5 S 124 10 123 Ob. 14 29 E N E 12 W 5 S 170 14 169 R. 14 15 E N E 13 W 5 S 170 14 169 R. 14 1 E N E 14 W 5 S 180 15 177 R. 13 46 E N E 15 W 6 S 174 18 172 R. 13 28 E N E cloudy 16 W 6 S 182 19 180 R. 13 9 E N E misty 17 W 6 S 216 22 214 R. 12 47 E N E Rain The Summ of the Westings hitherto is 2283 which make Deg. of Longitude 39d 5m From hence my Course is most West sometimes Southerly sometimes Northerly Day Course Dist. N or S W. Lat. Winds 18 W 192 0 192 R. 12 47 E by N 19 W 180 0 180 R. 12 47 E cloudy 20 W 177 0 170 R. 12 47 E N E 21 W 171 0 171 R. 12 47 E N E 22 W 18 0 180 R. 12 47 E by N 23 R. W. Ob. W 4 N 170 11 N 168 R. 12 47 ob 12 58 E by N 24

R. W 146 0 146 R. 12 58 E by N 25 W 146 0 146 R. 12 58 E by N 26 W 3 N 185 9 N 184 Ob. 13 7 E by N 27 W 140 0 140 Ob. 13 7 E by N 28 W 167 0 167 R. 13 7 E by N 29 W 2 N 172 5 171 Ob. 13 12 E 30 W 173 0 173 Ob. 13 12 E N E M. 1 W 196 0 196 R. 13 12 E by N 2 W 160 0 160 Ob. 13 12 E by N 3 W 154 0 154 R. 13 12 E N E 4 R. W. Ob. W 2 S 153 5 S 152 R. 13 12 Ob. 13 7 E N E 5 W 2 N 180 7 N 179 Ob. 13 14 E N E 6 W 3 N 172 9 N 171 Ob 13 22 E N E 7 W 160 〈◊〉 160 Ob. 13 22 E N E 8 W 3 S 149 7 S 148 Ob. 13 15 E by N 9 W 4 S 134 9 S 133 Ob. 13 6 E N E 10 W 128 0 128 R. 13 6 E N E 11 W 5 S 112 9 111 Ob. 12 57 〈◊〉 N E 12 W 128 0 128 R. 12 57 E N E 13 W 129 0 129 R. 12 57 E N E 14 W 128 0 128 R. 12 57 E N E 15 W 4 N 118 8 N 117 Ob. 13 5 E N E 16 W 6 S 114 11 S 113 Ob. 12 54 E N E 17 W 3 S 109 5 S 108 Ob. 12 49 E N E 18 W 120 0 120 R. 12 49 E N E 19 W 〈◊〉 0 137 R. 12 49 E N E 20 W 134 0 134 R. 12 50 E 21 N W 7 W 13 8 N 10 R. 12 59 E N E Summ of all the Westings 7323 Making Deg of Longitude in all 125 d. 11 m. Now the Island Guam bore N. N. E. 8 leagues dist this gives 22 m. to my Lat. and takes 9 from my Meridian dist so that the Island is in Lat. 13 21 and the Merid. dist from Cape Corrientes 7302 miles which reduced into degrees makes 125 d. 11 m. The Table consists of 7 Columns The first is of the days of the month The 2d Column contains each days course or the Point of the Compass we ran upon The 3d gives the distance or length of such course in Italian or Geometrical miles at the rate of 60 to a degree or the progress the Ship makes every day and is reckoned always from noon to noon But because the course is not always made upon the same Rumb in a direct line therefore the 4th and 5th Columns shew how many miles we ran to the South every day and how many to the West which last was our main run in this Voyage By the 17th of April we were got pretty near into the latitude of Guam and our course then lying along that parallel our Northing and Southing consequently were but little according as the Ship deviated from its direct course and such deviation is thenceforward exprest by N. or S. in the 5th Column and the Ships keeping straight on the West Rumb by 0 that is to say no Northing or Southing The 6th Columns shews the lat we were in every day where R. signifies the dead Reckoning by the running of the Logs and Ob. shews the lat by observation The 7th Column shews the Wind and Weather To these I would have added an 8th Column to shew the Variation of the Needle but as it was very small in this course so neither did we make any observation of it above once after we were set out from the Mexican Coast At our departure from Cape Corrientes we found it to be 4 d. 28 m. Easterly and the observation we made of it afterwards when we had gone about a third of the Voyage shewed it to be so near the same but decreasing Neither did we observe it at Guam for Captain Swan who had the Instruments in his Cabbin did not seem much to regard it Yet I am inclined to think that at Guam the Variation might be either none at all or even increasing to the Westward To conclude May 20th at noon when we begin to call it 21st we were in lat 12 d. 50 m. N. by R. having run since the noon before 134 miles directly West We continued the same course till 2 that afternoon for which I allow 10 miles more West still and then finding the parallel we ran upon to be too much Southerly we clapt on a Wind and sailed directly North till 5 in the afternoon having in that time run 8 mile and increased our latitude so many minutes making it 12 d. 58 m. We then saw the Island Guam bearing N. N. E. distant from us about 8 leagues which gives the latitude of the Island 13. d. 20 m. And according to the account foregoing its longitude is 125 d. 11 m. West from Cape Corrientes on the Coast of Mexico allowing 58 and 59 Italian miles to a degree in these latitudes at the common rate of 60 miles to a degree of the Equator as before computed As a Corollary from hence it will follow that upon a supposal of the truth of the general allowance Seamen make of 60 Italian miles to an Equinoctial degree that the South Sea must be of a greater breadth by 25 degrees than it s commonly reckoned by Hydrographers who makes it only about 100 more or less For since we found as I shall have occasion to say the distance from Guam to the Eastern parts of Asia to be much the same with the common reckoning it follows by way of necessary consequence from hence that the 25 degrees of longitude or there abouts which are under-reckon'd in the distance between America and the East Indies Westward must be over reckoned in the breadth of Asia and Africk the Atlantick Sea or the American Continent or all together and so that Tract of the Terraqueous Globe must be so much shortened And for a further confirmation of the fact I shall add that as to the Aethiopick or Indian Sea its breadth must be considerably less than 't is generally calculated to be if it be true what I have heard over and over from several able Seamen whom I have conversed with in those parts that Ships sailing from the Cape of Good Hope to New-Holland as many Ships bound to Java or thereabouts keep that lat find themselves there and sometimes to their cost running a ground when they have thought themselves to be a great way off and 't is from hence possibly that the Dutch call that part of this Coast the Land of Indraught as if it magnetically drew Ships too fast to it and give cautions to avoid it But I rather think 't is the nearness of the Land than any Whirlpool or the like that surprizes them As to the breadth of the Atlantick Sea I am from good hands assured that it is over-reckoned by 6 7 8 or 10 degrees for besides my different draughts of the concurrent Accounts of several experienced men who have ●…onfirmed the same to me Mr.

the S. E. end of the Island Mindanao we saw two small Islands about 3 leagues distant from it We might have passed between them and the main Island as we learnt since but not knowing them nor what dangers we might encounter there we chose rather to sail to the Eastward of them But meeting very strong Westerly Winds we got nothing forward in many days In this time we first saw the Islands Meangis which are about 16 leagues distant from the Mindanao bearing S. E. I shall have occasion to speak more of them hereafter The 4th day of July we got into a deep Bay 4 leagues N. W. from the two small Islands before mentioned But the night before in a violent Tornado our Bark being unable to beat any longer bore away which put us in some pain for fear she was overset as we had like to have been our selves We anchored on the South West side of the Bay in 15 fathom Water about a Cables length from the shore Here we were forced to shelter our selves from the violence of the Weather which was so boisterous with Rains and Tornadoes and a strong Westerly Wind that we were very glad to find this place to anchor in being the only shelter on this side from the West Winds This Bay is not above two mile wide at the mouth but farther in it is 3 leagues wide and 7 leagues deep running in N. N. W. There is a good depth of Water about 4 or 5 leagues in but rocky foul ground for above 2 leagues in from the mouth on both sides of the Bay except only in that place where we lay About 3 leagues in from the mouth on the Eastern side there are fair sandy Bays and very good anchoring in 4 5 and 6 fathom The Land on the East side is high mountainous and woody yet very well watered with small Brooks and there is one River large enough for Canoas to enter On the West side of the Bay the Land is of a mean heighth with a large Savannah bordering on the Sea and stretching from the mouth of the Bay a great way to the Westward This Savannah abounds with long Grass and it is plentifully stock'd with Deer The adjacent Woods are a covert for them in the heat of the day but mornings and evenings they feed in the open Plains as thick as in our Parks in England I never saw any where such plenty of wild Deer tho I have met with them in several parts of America both in the North and South Seas The Deer live here pretty peaceably and unmolested for there are no Inhabitants on that side of the Bay We visited this Savannah every morning and killed as many Deer as we pleased sometimes 16 or 18 in a day and we did eat nothing but Venison all the time we staid here We saw a great many Plantations by the sides of the Mountains on the East side of the Bay and we went to one of them in hopes to learn of the Inhabitants whereabouts the City was that we might not over-sail it in the night but they fled from us We lay here till the 12th day before the Winds abated of their fury and then we sailed from hence directing our course to the Westward In the morning we had a Land Wind at North. At 11 a clock the Sea breeze came at West just in our Teeth but it being fair weather we kept on our way turning and taking the advantage of the Land breezes by night and the Sea breezes by day Being now past the S. E. part of the Island we coasted down on the South side and we saw abundance of Canoas a fishing and now and then a small Village Neither were these Inhabitants afraid of us as the former but came aboard yet we could not understand them nor they us but by signs and when we mentioned the word Mindanao they would point towards it The 18th day of July we arrived before the River of Mindanao the mouth of which lies in lat 6 d. 22 m. No. and is laid in 231 d. 12 m. Longitude West from the Lizard in England We anchored right against the River in 15 fathom water clear hard Sand about 2 miles from the shore and 3 or 4 miles from a small Island that lay without us to the Southward We fired 7 or 9 Guns I remember not well which and were answered again with 3 from the shore for which we gave one again Immediately after our coming to an anchor Raja Laut and one of the Sultans Sons came off in a Canoa being rowed with 10 Oars and demanded in Spanish what we were and from whence we came Mr. Smith he who was taken Prisoner at Leon in Mexico answered in the same Language that we were English and that we had been a great while out of England They told us that we were welcom and asked us a great many questions about England especially concerning our East India Merchants and whether we were sent by them to settle a Factory here Mr. Smith told them that we came hither only to buy provision They seemed a little discontented when they understood that we were not come to settle among them for they had heard of our arrival on the East side of the Island a great while before and entertained hopes that we were sent purposely out of England hither to settle a trade with them which it should seem they are very desirous of For Captain Goodlud had been here not long before to treat with them about it and when he went away told them as they said that in a short time they might expect an Ambassadour from England to make a full bargain with them Indeed upon mature thoughts I should think we could not have done better than to have complied with the desire they seemed to have of our settling here and to have taken up our quarters among them For as thereby we might better have consulted our own profit and satisfaction than by the other loose roving way of life so it might probably have proved of publick benefit to our Nation and been a means of introducing an English Settlement and Trade not only here but through several of the Spice-Islands which lye in its neighbourhood For the Islands Meangis which I mentioned in the beginning of this Chapter lye within 20 leagues of Mindanao These are 3 small Islands that abound with Gold and Cloves if I may credit my Author Prince Jeoly who was born on one of them and was at this time a Slave in the City of Mindanao He might have been purchased by us of his Master for a small matter as he was afterwards by Mr. Moody who came hither to Trade and laded a Ship with Clove Bark and by transporting him home to his own Country we might have gotten a Trade there But of Prince Jeoly I shall speak more hereafter These Islands are as yet probably unknown to the Dutch who as I said before indeavour to ingross all

all for they do not go up to furl it The Main-mast in their biggest Jonks seemed to me as big as any third rate Man of Wars Mast in England and yet not pierced as ours but made of one grown Tree and in all my Travels I never saw any single Tree-masts so big in the body and so long and yet so well tapered as I have seen in the Chinese Jonks Some of our men went over to a pretty large Town on the Continent of China where we might have furnished our selves with Provision which was a thing we were always in want of and was our chief business here but we were afraid to lye in this place any longer for we had some signs of an approaching Storm this being the time of the year in which Storms are expected on this Coast and here was no safe Riding It was now the time of the year for the S. W. Monsoon but the Wind had been whiffling about from one part of the Compass to another for two or three days and sometimes it would be quite calm This caused us to put to Sea that we might have Sea-room at least for such flattering weather is commonly the fore-runner of a Tempest Accordingly we weighed Anchor and set out yet we had very little Wind all the next night But the day ensuing which was the 4th day of July about 4 a clock in the afternoon the Wind came to the N. E. and freshned upon us and the Sky look'd very black in that quarter and the black clouds began to rise apace and move towards us having hung all the morning in the Horizon This made us take in our Top-sails and the Wind still increasing about 9 a clock we rift our Main-sail and Fore-sail at 10 we furl'd our Fore-sail keeping under a Main-sail and Mizen At 11 a clock we furl'd our Main-sail and ballasted our Mizen at which time it began to rain and by 12 a clock at night it blew exceeding hard and the Rain poured down as through a Sieve It thundered and lightned prodigiously and the Sea seemed all of a Fire about us for every Sea that broke sparkled like Lightning The violent Wind raised the Sea presently to a great heighth and it ran very short and began to break in on our Deck One Sea struck away the Rails of our Head and our Sheet Anchor which was stowed with one Flook or bending of the Iron over the Ships Gunal and lasht very well down to the side was violently washt off and had like to have struck a hole in our Bow as it lay beating against it Then we were forced to put right before the Wind to stow our Anchor again which we did with much ado but afterwards we durst not adventure to bring our Ship to the wind again for fear of foundring for the turning the Ship either to or from the Wind is dangerous in such violent Storms The fierceness of the weather continued till 4 a clock that morning in which time we did cut away two Canoas that were towing aftern After four a clock the Thunder and the Rain abated and then we saw a Corpus Sant at our Main-top-mast head on the very top of the truck of the Spindle This sight rejoyed our Men exceedingly for the height of the Storm is commonly over when the Corpus Sant is seen aloft but when they are seen lying on the Deck it is generally accounted a bad sign A Corpus Sant is a certain small glittering light when it appears as this did on the very top of the Main-mast or at a Yard-arm it is like a Star but when it appears on the Deck it resembles a great Glow-worm The Spaniards have another Name for it though I take even this to be a Spanish or Portuguese Name and a corruption only of Corpus Sanctum and I have been told that when they see them they presently go to Prayers and bless themselves for the happy sight I have heard some ignorant Seamen discoursing how they have seen them creep or as they say travel about in the Scuppers telling many dismal stories that hapned at such times but I did never see any one stir out of the place where it first was fixt except upon Deck where every Sea washeth it about Neither did I ever see any but when we have had hard rain as well as wind and therefore do believe it is some Jelly but enough of this We continued scudding right before wind and sea from 2 till 7 a clock in the morning and then the wind being much abated we set our Mizen again and brought our Ship to the wind and lay under a Mizen till 11. Then it fell flat calm and it continued so for about 2 hours but the Sky looked very black and rueful especially in the S. W. and the Sea tossed us about like an Egg-shell for want of wind About one a clock in the afternoon the wind sprung up at S. W. out of the quarter from whence we did expect it therefore we presently brail'd up our Mizen and wore our Ship but we had no sooner put our Ship before the wind but it blew a Storm again and it rain'd very hard though not so violently as the night before but the wind was altogether as boysterous and so continued till 10 or 11 a clock at night All which time we scudded or run before the wind very swift tho only with our bare Poles that is without any Sail abroad Afterwards the wind died away by degrees and before day we had but little wind and fine clear weather I was never in such a violent Storm in all my life so said all the company This was near the change of the Moon it was 2 or 3 days before the change The 6th day in the morning having fine handsome weather we got up our Yards again and began to dry our selves and our cloaths for we were all well sopt This Storm had deadned the hearts of our men so much that instead of going to buy more Provision at the same place from whence we came before the Storm or of seeking any more for the Island Prata they thought of going somewhere to shelter before the Full Moon for fear of another such Storm at that time For commonly if there is any very bad weather in the month it is about 2 or 3 days before or after the Full or Change of the Moon These thoughts I say put our men on thinking where to go and the Drafts or Sea-plats being first consulted it was concluded to go to certain Islands lying in lat 23 d. N. called Piscadores For there was not a man aboard that was any thing acquainted on these Coasts and therefore all our dependance was on the Drafts which only pointed out to us where such and such places or Islands were without giving us any account what Harbour Roads or Bays there were or the produce strength or trade of them these we were forced to seek after our selves The Piscadores

us at last the Captain ordered the Drum to be beaten which was done of a sudden with much vigor purposely to scare the poor Creatures They hearing the noise ran away as fast as they could drive and when they ran away in haste they would cry Gurry Gurry speaking deep in the Throat Those Inhabitants also that live on the Main would always run away from us yet we took several of them For as I have already observed they had such bad Eyes that they could not see us till we came close to them We did always give them victuals and let them go again but the Islanders after our first time of being among them did not stir for us When we had been here about a week we hal'd our Ship into a small sandy Cove at a Spring-tide as far as she would sloat and at low Water she was left dry and the sand dry without us near half a mile for the Sea riseth and falleth here about 5 fathom The Flood runs North by East and the Ebb South by West All the Neep-tides we lay wholly a ground for the Sea did not come near us by about a hundred yards We had therefore time enough to clean our Ships bottom which we did very well Most of our Men lay ashore in a Tent where our Sails were mending and our Strikers brought home Turtle and Manatee every day which was our constant food While we lay here I did endeavour to perswade our men to go to some English Factory but was threatened to be turned ashore and left here for it This made me desist and patiently wait for some more convenient place and opportunity to leave them than here Which I did hope I should accomplish in a short time because they did intend when they went from hence to bear down towards Cape Comorin In their way thither they design'd also to visit the Island Cocos which lyeth in Lat. 12 d. 12 m. North by our Drafts hoping there to find of that Fruit the Island having it name from thence CHAP. XVII Leaving New-Holland they pass by the Island Cocos and touch at another Woody Island near it A Land Animal like large Craw-fish Coco-Nuts floating in the Sea The Island Triste bearing Coco's yet over-flown every Spring-tide They anchor at a small Island near that of Nassaw Hog Island and others A Proe taken belonging to Achin Nicobar Island and the rest called by that Name Ambergrease good and bad The manners of the Inhabitants of these Islands They anchor at Nicobar Isle It s Situation Soil and pleasant Mixture of its Bays Trees c. The Melory tree and Fruit used for bread The Natives of Nicobar Island their Form Habit Language Habitations no form of Religion or Government Their Food and Canoas They clean the Ship The Author projects and gets leave to stay ashore here and with him two Englishmen more the Portuguese and 4 Malayans of Achin Their first Rencounters with the Natives Of the common Traditions concerning Cannibals or Man-Eaters Their Entertainment ashore They buy a Canoa to transport them over to Achin but overset her at first going cut Having recruited and improved her they set out again for the East side of the Island They have a War with the Islanders but Peace being re-established they lay in stores and make Preparations for their Voyage MArch the 12th 1688. we sailed from New Holland with the Wind at N. N. W. and fair weather We directed our course to the Northward intending as I said to touch at the Island Cocos but we met with the Winds at N. W. W. N. W. and N N. W. for several days which obliged us to keep a more Easterly course than was convenient to find that Island We had soon after our setting out very bad weather with much Thunder and Lightning Rain and high blustring Winds It was the 26th day of March before we were in the lat of the Island Cocos which is in 12 d. 12 m. and then by judgment we were 40 or 50 leagues to the East of it and the Wind was now at S. W. Therefore we did rather chuse to bear away towards some Islands on the West side of Sumatra than to beat against the Wind for the Island Cocos I was very glad of this being in hopes to make my escape from them to Sumatra or some other place We met nothing of remark in this Voyage beside the catching two great Sharks till the 28th day Then we fell in with a small woody Island in Lat. 10 d. 30 m. Its Longitude from New Holland from whence we came was by my account 12 d. 6 m. West It was deep water about the Island and therefore no anchoring but we sent 2 Canoas ashore one of them with the Carpenters to cut a Tree to make another Pump the other Canoa went to search for fresh water and found a fine small Brook near the S. W. point of the Island but there the Sea fell in on the ashore so high that they could not get it off At noon both our Canoas returned aboard and the Carpenters brought aboard a good Tree which they afterwards made a Pump with such a one as they made at Mindanao The other Canoa brought aboard as many Boobies and Men of War Birds as sufficed all the Ships Company when they were boiled They got also a sort of Land Animal somewhat resembling a large Craw-fish without its great Claws These creatures lived in holes in the dry sandy ground like Rabbits Sir Francis Drake in his Voyage round the world makes mention of such that he found at Ternate or some other of the Spice Islands or near them They were very good sweet Meat and so large that 2 of them were more than a Man could eat being almost as thick as ones Leg. Their Shells were of a dark brown but red when boiled This Island is of a good heighth with steep Cliffs against the S. and S. W. and a sandy Bay on the North side but very deep water steep to the shore The Mold is blackish the Soil fat producing large Trees of divers sorts About one a clock in the Afternoon we made sail from this Island with the wind at S. W. and we steered N. W. Afterwards the winds came about at N. W. and continued between the W. N. W. and the N. N. W. several days I observed that the winds blew for the most part out of the West or N. W. and then we had always rainy weather with Tornadoes and much Thunder and Lightning but when the wind came any way to the Southward it blew but faint and brought fair weather We met nothing of remark till the 7th day of April and then being in Lat. 7 d. S. we saw th●… Land of Sumatra at a great distance bearing North. The 8th day we saw the East end of the Island Sumatra very plainly we being then in Lat. 6 d. S. The 10th day being in Lat. 5 d. 11 m. and about 7

assistance of the Doctors of the Fort a fine Air and good Kitchin and Cellar Physick soon recovered their healths Those that subscribed to be at all calls and assisted to bring in the Ship received Captain Heath's Bounty by which they furnished themselves with Liquor for their homeward Voyage But we were now so few that we could not sail the Ship therefore Captain Heath desired the Governour to spare him some men and as I was informed had a promise to be supplied out of the homeward bound Dutch East India Ships that were now expected every day and we waited for them In the mean time in came the James and Mary and the Josiah of London bound home Out of these we thought to have been furnished with men but they had only enough for themselves therefore we waited yet longer for the Dutch Fleet which at last arrived but we could get no men from them Captain Heath was therefore forced to get men by stealth such as he could pick up whether Soldiers or Seamen The Dutch knew our want of men therefore near 40 of them those that had a design to return to Europe came privately and offered themselves and waited in the night at places appointed where our Boats went and fetched 3 or 4 aboard at a time and hid them especially when any Dutch Boat came aboard our Ship Here at the Cape I met my friend Daniel Wallis the same who leapt into the Sea and swam at Pulo Condore After several Traverses to Madagascar Don Mascarin Ponticherri Pegu Cunnimere Maderas and the River of Hugli he was now got hither in a homeward bound Dutch Ship I soon perswaded him to come over to us and found means to get him aboard our Ship About the 23d of May we sailed from the Cape in the company of the James and Mary and the Josiah directing our Course towards the Island Santa Hellena We met nothing of remark in this Voyage except a great swelling Sea out of the S. W. which taking us on the broad side made us rowl sufficiently Such of our Water-Casks as were between Decks running from side to side were in a short time all staved and the Deck well washed with the fresh water The Shot tumbled out the Lockers and Garlands and rung a lowd peal rumbling from side to side every rowl that the Ship made neither was it an easie matter to reduce them again within bounds The Guns being carefully look'd after and lash'd fast never budg●d but the Tackles or Pulleys and Lashings made great Musick too The sudden and violent motion of the Ship made us fearful lest some of the Guns should have broken loose which must have been very detrimental to the Ships sides The Masts were also in great danger to be rowl'd by the board but no harm hapned to any of us besides the loss of 3 or 4 Butts of Water and a Barrel or 2 of good Cape Wine which was staved in the great Cabbin This great Tumbling Sea took us shortly after we came from the Cape The violence of it lasted but one Night yet we had a continual swelling came out of the S. W. almost during all the passage to Santa Hellena which was an eminent token that the S. W. Winds were now violent in the higher latitudes towards the South Pole for this was the time of the year for those Winds Notwithstanding this boisterous Sea coming thus obliquely upon us we had fine clear weather and a moderate gale at S. E. or between that and the East till we came to the Island Santa Hellena where we arrived the 20th day of June There we found the Princess Ann at an Anchor waiting for us The Island Santa Hellena lies in about 16 Degrees South lat The Air is commonly serene and clear except in the months that yield Rain yet we had one or two very rainy days even while we were here Here are moist seasons to plant and sow and the weather is temperate enough as to heat tho so near the Equator and very healthy The Island is but small not above nine or ten leagues in length and stands 3 or 400 leagues from the main Land It is bounded against the Sea with steep Rocks so that there is no landing but at 2 or 3 places The Land is high and Mountainous and seems to be very dry and poor yet there are fine Valleys proper for cultivation The Mountains appear bare only in some places you may see a few low Shrubs but the Valleys afford some Trees fit for building as I was informed This Island is said to have been first discover'd and settled by the Portuguese who stockt it with Goats and Hogs But it being afterwards deserted by them it lay waste till the Dutch finding it convenient to relieve their East India Ships settled it again but they afterwards relinquished it for a more convenient place I mean the Cape of Good Hope Then the English East India Company settled their Servants there and began to Fortify it but they being yet weak the Dutch about the year 1672 came thither and re-took it and kept it in their possession This news being reported in England Captain Monday was sent to re-take it who by the advice and conduct of one that had formerly lived there landed a Party of Armed Men in the night in a small Cove unknown to the Dutch then in Garrison and climbing the Rocks got up into the Island and so came in the morning to the Hills hanging over the Fort which stands by the Sea in a small Valley From thence firing into the Fort they soon made them surrender There were at this time two or three Dutch East India Ships either at Anchor or coming thither when our Ships were there These when they saw that the English were Masters of the Island again made sail to be gone but being chaced by the English Frigots 2 of them became rich prizes to Captain Monday and his men The Island hath continued ever since in the hands of the English East-India Company and hath been greatly strengthned both with Men and Guns so that at this day it is secure enough from the invasion of any Enemy For the common Landing-place is a small Bay like a Half-Moon scarce 500 paces wide between the two points Close by the Sea side are good Guns planted at equal distances lying along from one end of the Bay to the other besides a small Fort a little further in from the Sea near the midst of the Bay All which makes this Bay so strong that it is impossible to force it The small Cove where Captain Monday landed his men when he took the Island from the Dutch is scarce fit for a Boat to land at and yet that is now also fortified There is a small English Town within the great Bay standing in a little Valley between two high steep Mountains There may be about 20 or 30 small Houses whose Walls are built with rough Stones The inside

this means is at least 3 months within 4 degrees of the Zenith so that they have the Sun in a manner over their heads from the beginning of May till the latter end of July Whereas when the Sun comes under the Line in March or September it immediately posts away to the North or the South and is not 20 days in passing from 3 degrees on one side to 3 degrees on the other side the Line So that by his small stay there the heat cannot be answerable to what it is near the Tropick where he so long continues in a manner Vertical at Noon and is so much longer above the Horizon each paaticular day with the intervening of a shorter night But to return to Tonquin During the wet months there 't is excessive hot especially whenever the Sun breaks out of the Clouds and there is then but little Wind stirring And I have been told by a Gentleman who liv'd there many years that he thought it was the hottest place that ever he was in tho he had been in many other parts of India And as to the Rains it has not the least share of them tho neither altogether the greatest of what I have met with in the Torrid Zone and even in the same Latitude and on the same side of the Equator The wet season begins here the latter end of April or the beginning of May and holds till the latter end of August in which time are very violent Rains some of many hours others of 2 or 3 days continuance Yet are not these Rains without some considerable intervals of fair weather especially toward the beginning or end of the season By these Rains are caus'd those Land-floods which never fail in these Countries between the Tropicks at their annual periods all the Rivers then overflowing their Banks This is a thing so well known to all who are any way acquainted with the Torrid Zone that the cause of the overflowing of the Nile to find out which the Ancients set their wits so much upon the rack and fancied melting of Snows and blowing of Etesiae and I know not what is now no longer a secret For these floods must needs discharge themselves upon such low Lands as lie in their way as the Land of Egypt does with respect to the Nile coming a great way from within the Torrid Zone and falling down from the higher Ethiopia And any one who will be at the pains to compare the time of the Land flood in Egypt with that of the Torrid Zone in any of the parts of it along which the Nile runs will find that of Egypt so much later than the other as 't will be thought reasenable to allow for the daily progress of the Waters along so vast a tract of Ground They might have made the same wonderment of any other Rivers which run any long course from out the Torrid Zone but they knowing only the North Temperate Zone and the Nile being the only great River known to come thither a great way from a Country near the Line they made that only the subject of their enquiry but the same effect must also follow from any great River that should run from out of the Torrid Zone into the South Temperate Zone And as to the Torrid Zone the yearly floods and their cause are every where as well known by people there as the Rivers themselves In America particularly in Campeachy Rivers in Rio Grande and others 't is a vast havock is made by these floods bringing down sometimes Trees of an incredible bigness and these floods always come at the stated season of the year In the dry part of Peru along the coasts of Pacifick Sea where it never rains as it seldom does in Egypt they have not only Floods but Rivers themselves made by the annual falling of Rain on the Mountains within Land the Channels of which are dry all the rest of the year This I have observ'd concerning the River Ylo on the Coast of Peru in my former Volume p. 95. But it has this difference from the Floods of Egypt that besides its being a River in the Torrid Zone 't is also in South Latitude and so overflows at a contrary season of the year to wit at such time as the Sun being in Southern Signs causes the Rains and Floods on that side the Line But to return from this digression in August the weather at Tonquin is more moderate as to heat or wet yet not without some showers and September and October are more temperate still yet the worst weather in all the year for Seamen is in one of the 3 months last mentioned for then the violent Storms called Tuffoons Typhones are expected These winds are so very fierce that for fear of them the Chinese that Trade thither will not stir out of Harbour till the end of October after which month there is no more danger of any violent Storms till the next year Tuffoons are a particular kind of violent Storms blowing on the Coast of Tonquin and the neighboring Coasts in the months of July August and September They commonly happen near the full or change of the Moon and are usually preceded by very fair weather small winds and a clear Sky Those small winds veer from the common Trade of that time of the year which is here at S. W. and shuffles about to the N. and N. E. Before the Storm comes there appears a boding Cloud in the N. E. which is very black near the Horizon but towards the upper edge it looks of a dark copper colour and higher still it is brighter and afterwards it fades to a whitish glaring colour at the very edge of the Cloud This appears very amazing and ghastly and is sometimes seen 12 hours before the Storm comes When that Cloud begins to move apace you may expect the Wind presently It comes on fierce and blows very violent at N. E. 12 hours more or less It is also commonly accompanied with terrible claps of Thunder large and frequent flashes of Lightning and excessive hard rain When the Wind begins to abate it dyes away suddenly and falling flat calm it continues so an hour more or less then the wind comes about to the S. W. and it blows and rains as fierce from thence as it did before at N. E. and as long November and December are 2 very dry wholesom warm and pleasant months January February and March are pretty dry but then you have thick fogs in the morning and sometimes drisling cold rains the Air also in these 3 months particularly in January and February is very sharp especially when the wind is at North East or North North East whether because of the Quarter it blows from or the Land it blows over I know not for I have elsewhere observ'd such Winds to be Colder where they have come from over Land April is counted a moderate month either as to heat or cold driness or moisture This is ordinarily the

my Course for Jamaica and found the N. E. Corner to lye in Lat. 18 d. North and in Longi West from Tobago 13 d. The Meridian distance from Tobago is 749 Miles VVest In our passage we saw no Land or Island till we made the N. E. end of Jamaica which lyeth in Longi VVest from the Meridian of Lundy 64 d. 10 m. and VVest from the City of Loango 82 d. 18 m. I shall only add that I am of Opinion that the Gallopagos Islands do lye a great deal further to the VVestward than our Hydrographers do place them according as Mr. Dampier hints p. 100 of his Voyage round the World I am Portbury Octob. 20. 1698. SIR Your most humble Servant John Covant Part of a second Letter from Captain Covant dated from Bristol Decemb. 10. 1697. LETTER II. SIR YOurs of the 6th Instant came to my Hands with the enclosed Queries which I shall endeavour to answer in part as far as my memory will assist me being now from home and at a distance from my Journals c. 1. The Common Trade-Winds on the Coast of Angola blow from the S. VV. to South till about 12 d. Long. from the Meridian of the Isle of Lundy 2. I have found them always in the same Quarter and not subject to shift in all the time I have used this Coast except that at a small distance off the shore they are sometimes a Point more to the VVestward 3. The Dry Season on this Coast I observed to be from the latter end of April to September tho' sometimes intermix'd with some pleasant showers of Rain I cannot be so punctual as to the time of the Wet Seasons 4. The true Sea-Breez I have commonly found here to be from W. S. W. to VV. by S. if it be fair Weather and the Land Breez is at E. by N. But if a Tornado happens it causes the Winds to shift all round the Compass and at last it settles at S. VV. which is the former true Trade Wind. I am yours John Covant CHAP. VI. Of Storms Storms less frequent but more fierce between the Tropicks Presages of their coming Of Norths the Times and Places where they blow Signs of their approach N. Banks A Chocolatta North. A North beneficial to Ships going from Campeachy to Jamaica A very uncommon way of wearing a Ship in a North. Of Souths the Times and Places where they Blow A Description of a South at Jamaica and at the Bay of Campeachy Much Fish kill'd by that Storm Of Hurricanes A Description of a terrible one at Antegoe where abundance of Fish and Sea Fowles were destroyed by it The difference between North Banks and the Clouds before an Hurricane the latter adorned with radiant Colours Tuffoons in the East-Indies the same with Hurricanes in the West Of Monsoons in the East-Indies A Storm called by the Portuguese the Elephanta which is the violentest Monsoon of that Season STorms within the Tropicks are generally known to us by some Name or other to distinguish them from other common Winds and though Storms are not so frequent there as they are in Latitudes nearer the Poles yet are they nevertheless expected yearly in their proper Months and when they do come they blow exceeding fierce though indeed some years they do not come at all or at least do not blow with that fierceness as at other times And as these Winds are commonly very fierce so are they but of a short continuance in comparison with Storms that we meet with in higher Latitudes In the West Indies there are three sorts viz. Norths Souths and Hurricanes In the East-Indies there are only two sorts viz. Monsoones and Tuffoones All these sorts of violent Storms except the Norths are expected near one time of the year and this is taken notice of by those that have been in any of them that they give certain Presages of their being at hand several hours before they come Norths are violent Winds that frequently blow in the Bay of Mexico from October till March They are chiefly expected near the full or change of the Moon all that time of the year but they are most violent in December and January These Winds are not confined to the Bay of Mexico only but there they are most frequent and rage with the greatest Violence They blow on the North side of Cuba very fierce too and in the Gulph of Florida as also about Hispaniola Jamaica c. and in the Channel between Jamaica and Portabel and in all the West Indian Sea between the Islands and the Main as high as the Island Trinidado But from Jamaica Eastward except on the North side of the Island Hispaniola they blow no harder than a pretty brisk Sea Wind. They are here at W. N. W. or N. W. though in the Bay of Mexico they blow strongest at N. N. W. and this is the Season of Westerly Winds in these East parts of the West-Indies as I have before noted in the third Chapter of this Discourse I shall be most particular of them that blow in the Bay of Mexico and what Signs they give us before hand Commonly before a North the Weather is vety serene and fair the Sky clear and but little Wind and that too veering from its proper Point or the common Trade Wind of the Coast and breathing gently at S. at S. W. and West a Day or two before the North comes The Sea also gives notice of a Storm by an extraordinary and long Ebb. For a Day or two before a North there will be hardly any discernable Flood but a constant ebbing of the Sea And the Sea Fowls also before a Storm do commonly hover over the Land which they do not at other times use to do in such great flights and numbers All these Signs concurring may give any Man notice of an approaching Storm but the greatest and most remarkable Sign of a North is a very black Cloud in the N. W. rising above the Horizon to about 10 or 12 degrees the upper edge of the Cloud appears very even and smooth and when once the upper part of the Cloud is 6 8 10 or 12 degrees high there it remains in that even form parallel to the Horizon without any motion and this sometimes 2 or 3 Days before the Storm comes At other times not above 12 or 14 hours but never less This Cloud lying so near the Horizon is not seen but in the Mornings or Evenings at least it does not appear so black as then this is called by English Seamen a North Bank and when ever we see such a Cloud in that part of the World and in the Months before mentioned we certainly provide for a Storm and though sometimes it may happen that such a Cloud may appear several Mornings and Evenings and we may not feel the effects of it or but very little yet we always provide against it for a North never comes without such a foreboding Cloud But if the VVinds

as the Sun comes nearer the sky grows more cloudy and the Weather more moist for the Rains follow the Sun and begin on either side of the Equator within a little while after the Sun has crost the Equinox and so continue till after his return back again The wet Season on the North side of the Equator in the torrid Zone begins in April or May and so continues till September or October The dry Weather comes in November or December and continues till April or May. In South Latitudes the Weather changes at the same times but with this difference that the dry Months in South Latitude are wet Months in North Latitude and the contrary as I have said before Yet neither doe the wet or dry Seasons set in or go out exactly at one time in all Years neither are all places subject to wet or dry VVeather alike For in some places it rains less than in others and consequently there is more dry VVeather But generally Places that lye under the Line or near it have their greatest Rains in March and September Head-Lands or Coasts that lye most exposed to the Trade-winds have commonly the best share of dry Weather On the contrary deep Bays or bendings of the Land especially such as lye near the Line are most subject to Rains Yet even among Bays or Bendings there is a great deal of difference in the Weather as to dry or wet for the VVeather as well as the Winds seem to be much influenced by accidental Causes and those Causes themselves whatever they are seem to be subject to great variation But to proceed with Matter of Fact I shall begin with the dryest Coasts and first with that of Peru from 3 d. South to 30 d. South There it never Rains neither at Sea for a good distance off shore as for 250 or 300 Leagues no nor on the shore for a considerable way within Land though exactly how far I know not yet there are small Mists sometimes in a Morning for two or three Hours but seldom continuing after 10 a Clock and there are Dews also in the Night This Coast lyes N. and S. it has the Sea open to the VVest and a chain of very high Mountains running a long shore on the East the VVinds constantly Southerly as I said before in the second Chapter of VVinds. In which Head I have made a Comparison as well of the VVinds on the Coast of Africa in the same Latitude as of the lying of the Coasts Only there is this difference that the coasting Trade-winds on the American side do blow further from the Land than those on the African side VVhich difference may probably arise from the disproportion of the Mountains that are in the two Continents for 't is known that the Andes in America are some of the highest Mountains in the VVorld but whether there are any on the Continent of Africa in those Latitudes so high I know not I have not heard of any at least none such are visible to Seamen I come now to speak of the Weather on the African Coast which though 't is not so dry as the Coast of Peru yet is it the next to it The Weather there is very dry from March till October which is the dry Season The rainy Season which is from October till March is moderate without that excess that is in most other Places in those Latitudes so that the wettest Season can only be called so from some gentle showers of Rain There are some Tornadoes but not so many as are in any other Places both of the East or West Indies the Peruvian Coast excepted And if the height of the Andes are the cause that the true East Breez does not take place in the Pacifick Sea within 200 Leagues distance from the shore when yet the Trade blows within 40 Leagues of the African Coast that Coast may perphaps be supposed to want such high Mountains And if those American Mountains do stop the VVinds from their Career why may they not as well break the Clouds before they reach near the shore and be the cause of the dry VVeather there And seeing both Coasts do lye alike and the VVind is alike why should not the VVeather be the same were it not for the disproportion between the Mountains of these Coasts For the East side of those Mountains are supplied with Rain enough as may be known by the great Rivers that disembogue from thence into the Atlantick Sea whereas the Rivers on the South Sea-Coast are but very few and small some of which do wholly dry away for a good part of the Year But yet they constantly break-out again in their Seasons when the Rains in the Country do come which always fall on VVest side of those Mountains and this is about February As I have spoken before of dry Coasts so now I shall speak of rainy ones I shall begin with the Coast of Guinea from Cape Lopos which lies one degree South taking in the Bite or Bending of the Land and all the Coast VVest from thence as far as Cape Palmas This is a very wet Coast subject to violent Tornadoes and excessive Rains especially in July and August In those Months there is scarce any fait Day This Coast lies all of it very near the Equator and no where above 6 or 7 degrees distance so that from its nearness to the Equator only we might probably conjecture that it is a rainy Coast for most places lying near the Line are very subject to Rains yet some more than others and Guinea may be reckoned among the wettest Places in the World There may be Places where the Rains continue longer but none are more violent while they last And as its nearness to the Line may be a great cause of its moisture so by its situation also one would guess that it should be subject to a great deal of Rain because there is a great Bite or Bending in of the Land a little to the North of the Line and from thence the Land stretcheth West parallel with the Line And these Circumstances singly taken according to my observations do seldom fail but more especially where they both meet Yet there may be other causes that may hinder those Effects or at least serve to allay the violence of them as they do on some other Coasts I shall only instance in the opposite Coast of America between the North Cape which lies North of the Equator and Cape Blanco on Brazil in South Latitude Now this Land lyes much after the Form of the Coast of Guinea with this difference that one Coast lies in South Lat. the other lies North of the Equator both of these Promontories lay paralel with the Equator there 's not much difference in their distance from it but that which makes the difference is that one juts out Westward the other Eastward and so one is the very Westermost Land of the Continent of Africa the other is